Controlling-spring for doors and the like.



J. LILLY. CONTROLLING SPRING FOR DOORS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 2|. I917.

Patented Aug. 6, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET1 0.. wuumumn. n cy J. LILLY.

CONTROLLING SPRING FOR DOORS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 2|. l9l7.

1,274A29. Patented Aug. 6, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH LILLY, or SMALL HEATH, BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND.

co'NTRoLLInGsPnING non noons AND THE LIKE.

Application filed November 21, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnru' LILLY, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at31 \Vaverley road, Small Heath, Birmingham, in the county of \Varwick, England, have invented new and useful Improvements in Controllingfiprings for Doors and the like; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention comprises improvements in controlling springs for doors and the like and refers to that class of such which in eludes a bracket portion adapted to be secured to the door frame, an arm the extremity of which makes a sliding contact with the door, and a helical spring one extremity of which is secured to the bracket and the other extremity of which is secured to the arm, the tensioning of the spring serving to move the arm angularly usually for the purpose of closing a door, though they may be reversed and employed for holding a door open.

As hitherto made these fitments have been provided with bearing pins and the usual method of putting a tension upon the spring is to provide one of the bearing pins with an extension on to which a controlling device may be fitted and the spring Wound up before it is secured to the arm, after which the extension is cut off; but variations in the tension of such springs cannot be made after the fitment has been assembled, the fitment cannot be assembled except in a workshop, and moreover if a spring is broken it necessitates the purchase of a new bearing pin With extension and the use of tools not ordinarily carried by a carpenter. An attempt has been madeto obviate this difficulty by providing the bearing pin with a eapstan-like extension, but this construction is frequently found difficult to adjust in many positions inpractic'e.

The object of the present invention is to provide a controlling spring which obviates these defects, wherein the tension can be readily varied as by a carpenter when fitting the spring to a door and which can be readily reversed so as to hold the door open instead of closed.

According to this invention the arm is made in two main parts one of which is free in relation to the spring, while the other part is connected to the one end of the spring and is free to move angularly in re- Speeific'ation of Letters Patent.

Patented An 6, 1918.

Serial No. 203,206. v

lation to the bracket, this spring controlled part of the arm abutting against the free portion and pressing it against the door or away from the door as may be required. Preferably the bracket is made in two parts, a main part carrying the spring and free portion of the arm, and a smaller separate portion or auxiliary part connected to the main part by the one bearing pin and carrying the spring controlled portion of the arm which is free to rotate around the main part of the bracket, the minor portion rotating with it.

A further object of the invention is to construct a spring of the type specified in a simple and cheaper manner; and in accordance therewith the spring arm is made in two separate parts.

The various parts may be manufactured from castings, forgings, or pressed from sheet metal as may be found most convenient.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 is an elevation of a door spring according to this invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of same.

Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 1 but showing the barrel portions, spring and bearing pins in section.

Fig. 4 is a perspective 'view showing the arms disconnected as when the tension on the spring is being adjusted, and the cotter pin detached.

Fig. 5 illustrates the auxiliary part of the bracket detached.

Figs. 6 and 7 show the two bearing pins removed.

. Fig. 8 illustrates a modified form of bearmg pm.

Fig. 9 illustrates a fitment employed when the spring is used for opening a door instead of for closing it.

In carrying my invention into practice as illustrated upon the accompanying drawings in Figs. 1-7 the main part of the bracket 1 conveniently consists of a barrel-like portion 2 containing the spring having a bearing hole in each end 4, 5 and an exten; sion or lug 6 at the one end whereby it may be screwed to the door frame. The auxiliary bracket part 7 made separately from the-main part has a bearing portion 8 and a part adapted to be screwed to the door frame it required, the one bearing pin 10 passing through the bearing 8 on the small bracket portion, the spring controlled arm 11 and the one end 4 of the main bracket within which it engages with the oneend of the spring 3. As shown the bracket is cast but it may be pressed from sheet metal.

The helical spring 3 is conveniently provided with a diametrically disposed part 12 at each end each of which parts is engaged by a correspondingly notched extremity -13 of one of the bearing pins or 14 in the usual way. The bearing pin' 1a passes through the free arm 15 and issecured to the bracket 1 by a suitable cotter pin 16 or equivalent, whilethe other bearing pin 10 is adapted to be similarly secured to the spring arm 11 by cotter pin 17 and it will be obvious that by disengaging the two arms a practically unlimited tension may be applied to the spring by rotating the spring controlled portion of the arm around the bracket as shown by Fig. 1, the auxiliary part of the bracket permitting this to be done, this rotation of the arm having the eflect of winding up the spring after the cotter pin '17 has been inserted. -Or the alteration in tension may be obtained by withdrawing the cotter pin 17 which secures the spring arm to its bearing pin, adjusting the arm angularly and inserting the cotter pin into another one of the holes 18 when a greater or lesser'tension will be obtained when the spring arm is rotated to the position where it engages the free arm. T 0 permit this rotation of the one part of the arm in relation to the other it may be arranged to merely abut against the back of the other part of the arm which may be effected by providingits extremity with a notch or slot which engages with a pin 21 carried upon the extremity of the loose arm, this pincarrying the usual roller 22 which makes contact with the door. Or'as shown the arms may be capable of movement in the direction of the axis of this roller pin so as to disengage them, the hole 23 being greater than the head of the pin 21, or the pin may be disengaged.

The bearing pin which carries the spring controlled arm is secured in position in an improved manner; being provided with a washer 26 on the inside of the bracket behind which a screw 27, cotter pin or equivalent is provided, preventing longitudinal movement of the pin. The pins are also provided with flanged heads 28 which prevent the separation of the two parts of the arm. I

.As will be seen the arm 15 will abut against the part 6 and prevent the spring unwinding when it is removed from the door.

' The construction of the arms in two separate parts instead of in one piece, as has cheapens the manufacture. 1

If desired the bearing pin 10 may be pro vided with a capstan head 30 as seen in Fig. 8 whereby it may be adjusted by a suitable lever while the fitting is in position upon the door; the cotter pin 17 being first removed and afterward replaced, this method of adjustment being additional to that pre viously described.

When employed for the purpose of closing a door the roller would engage with a plate in the usual wayywhile when it is required to employ the spring for the purpose of keeping the door open the arm and spring may be wound in the opposite direction and the extremity of the ,arms caused to engage with the inside of the loop por-' having its extremity abutting against said freely pivoted arm; and a spring one end of which is secured to the bracket and the other end to said second arm;

2. In a controlling spring for doors and the like the combination of an attachment bracket formed in two parts, viz. a main part and an auxiliary part pivoted to said main part; an arm pivoted to the main bracket part but having a limited" angular movement-in relation thereto; a second arm pivoted to the bracket and having an unlimited angular movement relative thereto; a spring having its one end connected to the main bracket part and its other end connected to said second arm, and means for detachably connecting said two arms together. 3. In a controlling spring for doors and the like the combination of'an attachment bracket formed in two parts, viz. a main part and an auxiliary part pivoted to said main part; an arm pivoted to the'main' bracket part but having-a limited angular movement in relation thereto; a second .arm pivoted to the main bracket part having an unlimited angular movement in relation thereto and having. its free extremity detachablyconnected to the free extremity of the first arm; and a roller carried atthe free extremity of said second arm. 4. In a controlling sprin for doors an the like the combination'oi an attachmentbracket formed in two parts, vizya' main part and an auxiliary part; an arm; abearmg pm secur ng said arm to the main part of the bracket; a second arm pivoted to the bracket having an unlimited angular'movement'in relation to the main part thereof and having its free extremity detachably connected to the free extremity of the first arm; a roller carried at the free extremity of said second arm; a second bearing pin securing said second arm to the auxiliary bracket part; and a spring connecting the two bearing pins together.

5. In a controlling spring for doors and the like the combination of an attachment bracket formed in two parts, viz. a .main part and an auxiliary part; an arm; a bearing pin securing said arm to the main part of the bracket; a second arm pivoted to the bracket having an unlimited angular movement in relation to the main part thereof and having its free extremity detachably connected to the free extremity of the first arm; a roller carried at the free extremity of said second arm; a second bearing pin; means for detachably connecting said second arm to said second bearing pin; and a'spring connecting the two bearing pins together.

6. In a controlling spring for doors and the like the combination of an attachment bracket formed in two parts, viz. a main part and an auxiliary part; an arm having a limited angular movement in relation to said bracket; a bearing pin securing said arm to the main part of the bracket having an unlimited angular movement in relation to the bracket; a second arm; a second bearing pin securing said second arm to the auxiliary bracket and having a projection on its extremity provided with holes whereby said bearing pin may be adjusted angularly; and a spring connecting the two bearing pins together.

7. In a controlling spring for doors and the like the combination of an attachment bracket formed in two parts, viz. a main part and an auxiliary part; an arm; a bearing pin securing said arm to the main part of the bracket; a second arm pivoted to the bracket having an unlimited angular movement in relation to the main part thereof and having its free extremity detachably connected to the free extremity of the first arm; a

- roller carried at the free extremity of said second arm; a second bearing pin securing said second arm to the auxiliary bracket and having a projection on its extremity provided with holes whereby said bearing pin may be adjusted angularly; and a spring connecting the two bearing pins together.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature.

JOSEPH LILLY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. O. 

